Fire victims get helping hand from City

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously to create a fund providing rental assistance to many residents displaced by fires.

The legislation introduced by Board President London Breed will allow residents displaced by fires who make up to 100 percent of the average median income for the area to apply for up to $10,000 in rental assistance.

Currently, rental assistance is only available for fire victims who earn 35 percent or less of the average median income.

Breed said Tuesday that many of the residents displaced by recent large fires in the city have fallen above that category but are still low-income, which has made it impossible for them to find something affordable in San Francisco:

“I really hope this legislation can make a difference in the lives of some of the residents in our city who have experienced such a tragedy.”

Supervisor David Campos, whose district has experienced several large fires in recent years including a massive five-alarm fire in Bernal Heights last month that damaged six buildings and displaced 57 people, said the legislation was something:

“… we should have done a long time ago. … I know that it’s something that is very meaningful to all the people who have been victims of fires in my district.”

Campos added:

“It’s one of many things that need to be done with respect to the issue of helping fire victims. My hope is that this is one of many additional steps that will be taken.”